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Patton Kizzire ends drought with win in FedEx Cup Fall opener

NAPA, Calif. — Patton Kizzire ended a long win streak Sunday at the Procore Championship, closing with a 2-under 70 for a tournament-record, five-stroke victory in the FedEx Cup Fall opener.

Kizzire went 176 events without a win after winning events in Mexico and Hawaii in a two-month period in late 2017 and early 2018.

“I will enjoy this win,” said Kizzire. “It’s great to go through the good and the bad. That’s life. You have to stay positive. That’s what led me here, right now.”

The 38-year-old former Auburn player received a PGA Tour card for the next two years after entering the event ranked 132nd in a battle to earn a card with a maximum limit of 125 in the standings.

Kizzire finished at 20-under 268 at Silverado Country Club. On Sunday, he repeatedly missed the tee for the second day in a row, but stayed steady on the tee and had three birdies, an eagle and three bogeys.

“I knew it would be difficult not to find myself leading by four goals before today,” said Kizzire. “I wrote down in my notebook, ‘I’m here, I’m here now.’ I kept coming back to that.

David Lipsky was second after a 71.

Patrick Fishburn (71) was third at 14 under. Mackenzie Hughes (72), Ben Silverman (71) and Greyson Sigg (72) are one stroke apart.

Sahith Theegala, last year’s winner, closed with a 72 to tie for fifth at 12-under 276.

Unlike 2023 when Theegala was followed by a large gallery on his way to victory, Kizzire and Lipsky played the final round in front of a small crowd on a beautiful course in the heart of Napa Valley wine country.

For the second straight day, Kizzire had to make his rare shot. He missed 11 fairways and hit three drives into the bunkers but got out of trouble and minimized the damage each time.

Lipskey also had problems when trying to fight the winds that were not there in the first three rounds.

“It was really tough out there,” Lipsky said. “The wind was blowing and strong and the greens are firm. Where you put some of those pins is really hard to get close to.”

After Lipsky made birdies on No. 1 and No. 4 to get within two shots, Kizzire responded with an eagle at the par-5 fifth. Kizzire hit his second shot over the green, then holed a soft return shot from 50 feet to get to 20 under.

Kizzire birdied No. 11 after the shot, and Lipsky birdied to regain two strokes. Kizzire then saved a birdie after driving into the bunker side of the green on No. 12, and had another birdie on No. 13.

Kizzire had a five-stroke lead after a birdie on No. 15, then missed a short par putt on No. 16. He had a chance to get a stroke back on No. 17, but pushed his putt to the right of the hole again. adjusted by category.


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